Renowned constitutional lawyer, Professor Mike Ozekhome (SAN), has expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s political trajectory, cautioning that the country is on a perilous path toward authoritarianism.
Speaking during an appearance on Hard Copy, a programme aired by Channels Television on Saturday, Ozekhome lamented the diminishing space for political pluralism and the weakening of ideological clarity in Nigeria’s democratic system.
“In a one-party state, dictatorship reigns supreme. Everybody will agree. National Assembly pocketed, judiciary will be pocketed, and everybody will be saying ‘yes, yes, yes,’” he said, warning of the consequences of unchecked political dominance.
Ozekhome criticized the rampant trend of politicians frequently switching parties for personal gain, describing it as evidence of a shallow political culture.
“It’s like beans, akara, and moi-moi; they’re the same,” he remarked, suggesting that political parties have become indistinguishable due to lack of distinct ideologies.
Recalling the fate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which once boasted it would govern for 60 years but lost power after just 16, Ozekhome drew parallels with the current administration. He warned that similar arrogance could lead the country further down the road of authoritarianism.
He also expressed concern about President Bola Tinubu’s consolidation of loyal allies in key government positions, suggesting that a fragmented opposition could leave little room for true electoral competition in 2027.
Ozekhome did not spare the public either. He noted what he sees as a worrying trend of citizen apathy, comparing it to a psychological condition.
“It’s a kind of national ‘Stockholm Syndrome,’” he said, describing a situation where citizens begin to sympathize with the very powers that oppress them.
In a rallying call, he urged Nigerians to reassert control over their democracy: “The power is yours; it is not theirs.”
